Settling in at Bondar
Dear Parents and Caregivers,
We are so happy to welcome all of you and your children back to Bondar this fall. As you already know, Dr. Roberta Bondar Elementary is a special place, filled with intelligent, creative, and resilient children. Our staff are excited to support students in their learning, growth, and well-being this fall and throughout the school year.
At Bondar, we truly value and appreciate our relationships with parents and caregivers, and we want to work in partnership with you. Open and respectful communication is important to us, and we are confident that by working together, we can address concerns that may arise along the way. If you would like to connect or set up a meeting with your child’s classroom teacher, email is usually the best place to start. Staff contact information is available on our school website.
We are pleased to finally be settled into our permanent classes for the school year. We know that adjusting to a new class can sometimes take time, particularly when a placement is unexpected. We encourage families to give children an opportunity to settle in with their new teacher and classmates and to approach the change with an open and positive mindset. A great deal of thought and care goes into class placements as we consider each child’s learning and social-emotional strengths and needs. We are also very fortunate to have an outstanding staff who are experienced, caring, and incredibly skilled at what they do.
As we settle into the year, we have a few reminders for families about some of our school expectations and procedures.
Lunches & Snacks
We encourage families, whenever possible, to pack lunches and snacks with nutritious, whole foods and to send water as the primary drink. We recognize that preparing healthy food children will actually eat, while keeping within a household budget, can be a real challenge, especially with the rising cost of groceries. Every family has its own unique needs and circumstances, and you know your children best. We appreciate your consideration and support.
Parking Lot Reminders
Our parking lot is a very busy place during drop-off and pick-up times. We have one drive-through lane on the left and one pick-up/drop-off lane on the right. When entering the parking lot, please pull as far forward as possible, right up to the Canadian flagpole, so that other vehicles can pull in behind you.
Please do not leave your vehicle unattended in the drop-off lane. If you need to walk your child to their classroom, please find parking in the neighbourhood or consider walking to school. We also ask that families not use staff parking on the left-hand side of the lot, park in areas that are not designated parking spaces, or use Accessible Parking stalls unless they have a valid permit. Thank you for helping us keep our parking lot safe and moving smoothly.
Visiting the School
If you are visiting the school for any reason, please check in with Miss Orozco at the office before proceeding elsewhere in the building. Knowing who is in the school at all times is an important part of maintaining a safe and secure environment for our students and staff.
Volunteering at Bondar
If you are interested in volunteering in your child’s classroom, joining us on a field trip, or supporting school events as a member of the PAC, there are volunteer forms that must be completed each school year. These forms are available at the school office.
Volunteers who work with children or vulnerable adults are also required to complete a Criminal Record Check (CRC) in accordance with the Criminal Records Review Act. Criminal Record Checks must be completed through the Abbotsford School District, which is registered with the Criminal Records Review Program (CRRP). To begin the process, please email [email protected]. Please note that Police or RCMP checks cannot be accepted in place of this process; volunteers will need to complete a CRC through the District and the CRRP’s online system. Once completed, the CRC is valid for five years. If you are unsure whether your Criminal Record Check is still current, please check with Miss Orozco in the school office.
Thank you to all of our volunteers for giving your time to support our students, staff, and school community. We truly appreciate you!
Important Forms Coming Home
This week, please watch for Student Verification Forms and the Student Reunification Release Form. These forms must be completed each school year to ensure that we have current and accurate information should we need to contact you, particularly in the event of an emergency. Please review and make any necessary changes to the Student Verification Form for each child and complete one Student Reunification Release Form per family. Thank you for taking the time to make sure this important information is up to date.
We know it is going to be another terrific year at Bondar. We look forward to watching our students learn, grow, take risks, build friendships, and experience success throughout the year. Above all, we want every child and family to know that everyone is welcome at Bondar. We are proud to be an inclusive and caring school where differences are valued and all members of our community belong.
Please continue to check the Bondar website for upcoming dates, events, and other important information throughout the school year. We are looking forward to all that lies ahead.
